What is a Lead Acid Battery
The lead acid battery, the first type of rechargeable battery created by Gaston Planté in 1860, uses lead and sulfuric acid to function. The chemical reaction from submerging lead in sulfuric acid produces electricity, and when this reaction is reversed, it recharges the battery. Because of its mature technology, low cost, tolerance to abuse and overcharging, and wide range of sizes and specifications, the lead acid battery is one of the most commonly used types today. Moreover, with many producers worldwide, lead acid battery recycling has become essential for sustainable practices, allowing us to repurpose its materials effectively.
Where Do We Usually Use Lead Acid Battery
- Automobiles - Since the lead acid battery is very well established in its field, over 150 years of usage, it has easily become one of the mainstays in the automotive industry. Lead acid battery is basically the car battery we see in the hood and is responsible for starting your vehicle, powering up the lights and horn among other things.
- Motorcycles - The primary job of the motorcycle’s battery, which happens to be a lead acid battery, is to start the bike and at the same time, supply extra current the bike needs when the alternator output is lower than the current draw.
- Generators - Off grid solar power generators such as Nature’s Generator power systems make use of sealed lead acid batteries for their power pods. Below are the three default solar power systems people can choose from Nature’s Generator product line. and all of them are upgradeable and expandable.
- Home Alarm Systems - It is important for home alarm systems to work 100% every single time because in the first place, they were installed there to protect the property and the people inside it from any potential harm. Lead acid batteries are still used for home alarm systems these days as a backup power source during power cuts and also as an additional power supply if the electricity coming from the grid is quite unstable.
Recycling Lead Acid Battery
The lead acid battery recycling is one of the most easily recycled batteries out there at the moment (with a recycling rate of 90% or more) because, well, it’s also been one of the oldest types of batteries that is still widely used up to this day. In the US, there are specialized lead acid battery recyclers that crush old batteries into nickel-sized pieces and then separate out the remaining different components. The collected lead from the old batteries are then sold to companies that make new batteries and the same thing happens to the other recyclable components from the dismantled unit.
Where to Send Your Lead Acid Battery for Recycling
- At Your Local Auto Parts Store
- In Selected Retail Shops
- Recycling Centers that Accept Lead Acid Batteries
- Paid Battery Recycling Service
If you want to get rid of your old lead acid battery but you cannot find any of the first three options mentioned above that are near your area, you may consider contacting a recycling company that can pick up your old battery and have them recycle it for you for a fee. What happens here is that you buy a recycling kit where you simply put your battery inside the container that came with the kit, properly seal the container, put the shipping label on it and schedule it for pick up.
Final Thoughts
Lead acid battery is one of the most common types of battery these days that is used for a wide variety of applications . Once a lead acid battery becomes old and calls for a replacement, proper disposal is key to make sure that it will not pose any danger to anyone.
Improper disposal of old lead acid batteries are considered illegal in the US because batteries contain certain hazardous chemicals that may harm not only the environment but the living things around them.
Lead acid battery recycling is the best way to get rid of an old lead acid battery in one’s household. It is worth noting that there are now numerous options available on where to send your old battery for recycling in the majority of the country.
* We want to give credit where credit is due. Professional writer, Ann Mathew, contributed research and content to this blog titled: Lead Acid Battery Recycling Thank you, Ann, for your contributions!
